WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University racked up 33 runs on 35 hits on Saturday to sweep a non-conference doubleheader from neighbor island rival Hawai'i Hilo 18-11 and 15-8 at Hans L'Orange Park.
 
The Sharks (10-2) used big innings in both contests to chomp the Vulcans (2-5).
 
The star of the doubleheader was senior leftfielder Jordan Mopas of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/St. Louis School who bashed a grand slam home run and a 3-run homer in back-to-back plate appearances in the second game in going 5-for-9 on the day with nine RBI. Mopas also had a double in the first contest. Senior centerfielder Tanner Tokunaga of of Pearl City, Hawai'i/Pearl City 6-for-8 with three RBIs and five runs scored, while junior rightfielder Sean Coffey of Boise, Idaho/Centennial was 4-for-6 for the twinbill with two RBIs and four runs scored.
 
The Sharks got wins from both starting pitchers along with three-inning saves.
 
In the first game, sophomore righthander Evan Spitzer of Mesa, Ariz./Desert Ridge (2-0) struck out seven Vulcans in six innings allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits. Senior righty Ryan Sanchez of Atwater, Calif./Atwater, got his first save as he finished up with a strikeout in three innings allowing eight runs (four earned) on seven hits.
 
In game two, senior lefthander Joshua Muneno of Honolulu/Maryknoll, struck out two without a walk, in going six innings allowing three runs on seven hits. Senior righthander Tyler Van Stone of Henderson, Nev./Foothill, picked up his first save with three strikeouts and the only three walks allowed on the day, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits in three innings.
 
HPU started the weekend series by scoring early and often, getting two runs in the first when senior first baseman Christian Kapeliela of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Castle laced a two-RBI singleg to left field. In the second the Sharks plated eight runs after a leadoff double by junior second baseman Trey Yukumoto of Waipahu, Hawai'i/Leilehua that with scoring accomplished by a sacrifice fly, three RBI singles, an RBI double and Kapeliela's RBI triple. One run was added by a UH Hilo error and the Sharks led 10-0.
 
The Sharks added two more in the fourth inning, two in the fifth and three in the seventh. The seventh included a pinch hit home run by junior Jake Selco of West Hills, Calif./El Camino Real, his second of the season.
 
HPU added another run in the eighth to keep UH Hilo at bay as they chalked up eight runs in the final three innings.
 
Vulcan starter Kyle Alcorn (1-1) got the loss, going just 1.1 innings allowing seven runs, all earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
 
The nightcap saw the Vulcans jump out to a 2-0 lead with an RBI single in the second and an RBI double in the third.
 
In the bottom of the third, HPU added a run on back-to-back doubles by Yukumoto and Tokunaga.
 
HPU took the lead in the fifth. After sophomore third baseman Micah Layosa of Lihue, Hawai'i/Kauai grabbed an RBI single up the middle, Mopas gave HPU the lead with an RBI single to left.
 
The Sharks broke the game open in the sixth, loading the bases before Layosa was hit by a pitch for an RBI. Then came Mopas who buried a 3-1 pitch over the fence in left center field for the grand slam and his third home run of the year and an 8-2 Shark lead.
 
The Vulcans responded with two runs in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 8-4, but in the bottom of the frame HPU answered. After two singles and a hit batsman to load the bases, Layosa plated a run with a deep foul out down the right field line that set the table for Mopas. The left fielder didn't waste any time as he sent the first pitch into the trees in left field for a three-run shot to give HPU a 12-4 advantage.
 
A throwing error and an RBI single put HPU up 15-4 going to the ninth, when the Vulcans ripped two extra-base hits and took advantage of a Shark error to score four runs.
 
UHH's Christian Sadler (0-1) got the loss allowing three runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings with four strikeouts and a walk.
 
The Sharks and Vulcans wrap up the weekend series,  and a total of nine games in two weeks, with a doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch is at 11 a.m. at Hans L'Orange Park.